Pages

July 7, 2010

G85: Rays 6, Red Sox 4

Sloppy play in the middle innings -- two errors, three wild pitches, a passed ball, no throws on two stolen base attempts, and five walks in the span of nine batters by Wakefield (5.2-4-6-6-3, 112) -- put the Sox in too deep a hole. They mounted a rally against closer-for-the-night Matt Garza in the ninth, but left the potential tying runs on base. Tampa Bay swept the three-game series.

Price (7.2-8-2-1-10, 111) worked the outside corner with precision, striking out seven Sox in the first four innings. Four of those seven punchouts were on three pitches: Kevin Youkilis to end the 1st, Darnell McDonald to end the 3rd, and David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre in the 4th.

Boston got on the board in the sixth when McDonald led off with a single and scored on Ortiz's double to left. Price calmly retired Yook on a foul fly to right, struck out Beltre (after a ball, three swings and misses) and got Bill Hall to ground out to short.

In the seventh, Mike Cameron homered with one out and Kevin Cash singled. Price then struck out Marco Scutaro looking and got McDonald swinging.

Trailing 6-2, Daniel Nava began the ninth against Grant Balfour with a triple to left-center; B.J. Upton dove for the ball and it got past him and rolled to the wall. Cameron's sac fly to right made it 6-3. J.D. Drew pinch-hit against new pitcher Randy Choate and singled to left. Then Joe Maddon brought in Garza, who started and pitched only three innings on Monday (though he threw 84 pitches).

Garza retired Scutaro on a fly ball to Upton, then battled through an 11-pitch at-bat against McDonald. With the count 2-2, Microwave fouled off five fastballs, then took ball 3, and then doubled down the right field line. Drew scored (6-4) and Boston brought the potential tying run to the plate: Ortiz. Garza fell behind 3-0; Flo fouled off a green light pitch, then walked. The home crowd was getting highly agitated.

Youkilis, who was seen on the bench between innings and after at-bats with his right shoe and sock off, getting some help for his ankle from the trainer, lined out to center to end the game.

The Red Sox have called up first baseman Ryan Shealey from Pawtucket and given him #30. No corresponding move has been announced, but it will probably be the optioning of Niuman Romero.

Shealy, 30, has played for the Rockies (2005-06) and Royals (2006-08). He spent 2009 with the Omaha Royals (AAA) and began this year with the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay's AAA team). He opted out of that deal last month and has been in Pawtucket since June 17, batting .246/.378/.426 in 18 games.

Price has allowed more than three earned runs in only one of his 16 starts this year (and more than three runs of either type only twice). His 2.34 ERA is 2nd-best in the AL and 7th in MLB. Price has held opponents to a .143 average with RATS -- the lowest in the majors.

I just sent my resignation letter in to the law firm. They'll let me work until I want to, and are leaving the door open for my working contract in the future. Although it would have to fit just right into my teaching schedule, it would be nice to be able to every now and then.

it is a little odd. if bot needed an inning of work, why not wait and use him later (if the game got close, which would only happen if the umps took runs away from the rays), although it would be either the 7th or the 8th at this point. and he got the 7th. okay, not so odd.

Amy, this Manuel guy could be worth getting to know...he had good numbers in Pawtucket, from what I recall. At least back in June he did. Could be a decent replacement for the atrocity known as 2010 RamRam/MDC.